Anger is simmering in Morocco’s medical, dental, and pharmacy schools as a recent decision to discipline over 50 students by referring them to disciplinary councils for alleged “incitement” has ignited further protests.
This move comes after the National Committee of Medical, Pharmacy, and Dental Students reported on Wednesday that numerous of its representatives and local councils received summons from deans of public medical and pharmacy schools.
The National Committee responded defiantly, urging all students to stand behind their representatives and participate in upcoming protest actions.
They vowed to provide a detailed response in a forthcoming statement, hinting at further escalation.
Sources informed Hespress Eng that students intend to stage sit-in protests today in Casablanca at 1 pm and in Agadir at 3 pm to voice their discontent over what they perceive as unfair treatment towards medical students and their representatives.
The sources indicated that student representatives in Casablanca were also summoned to appear before a disciplinary council at 9 a.m. significantly escalating the situation.
As per the sources, student representatives in Guelmim were summoned on Wednesday to a disciplinary council and were coerced with expulsion threats if they refused to resume classes.
“The representatives were summoned one by one and told that they should either resume their studies at 2 p.m. or they would be expelled,” the source said.
The students were also reportedly told to sign a blank document, which they declined, albeit eventually returning to classes under pressure.
Moreover, student representative bodies were disbanded on the 19th March, and their activities were prohibited by a directive issued on 19th March.
The disciplinary measures have further inflamed the students after weeks of demonstrations advocating for improved training conditions and the fulfillment of their specific demands.
Students had previously expressed discontent over remarks made by government ministers allegedly accusing them of instigating classmates to boycott exams and studies.
In response, medical students began signing declarations stating their voluntary participation in the boycotts and protests.
However, a source tells Hespress Eng that the ministry of health reportedly issued a directive instructing relevant authorities not to authenticate such declarations.
“This Ministry has received information that some medical and pharmacy students in various parts of the Kingdom are signing declarations of honor stating that the strikes they are taking part in are of their own free will and without incitement from any party.
Instructions of the minister: Immediate prohibition of the verification of this type of declaration,” the directive reads.
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